Pete Estes
Encyclopedia
Elliot Marantette "Pete" Estes (January 7, 1916 - March 24, 1988) was an American
automotive engineer and executive, most known as being the fifteenth president of General Motors
, from 1974 to 1981. He was born in Mendon, Michigan
and worked in a creamery, until at the suggestion of a cousin, applied to the General Motors Institute, where he worked with Charles Kettering
and oversaw the successful introduction of the Oldsmobile Rocket V8
engine.
Following his tenure as an engineer at Oldsmobile
, Estes was appointed Chief Engineer at Pontiac in 1956 by Semon "Bunkie" Knudsen and became President of the Pontiac Division in 1961, where he oversaw a dramatic increase in sales. He became President of the Chevrolet Division in 1965, executive Vice President of General Motors in 1972, and served as President of GM from 1974 to his retirement from the company in 1981.
After his retirement, Estes was a director on the board of the Kellogg Company
, and died of a heart attack at O'Hare Airport on his way to a board meeting on March 24, 1988.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
automotive engineer and executive, most known as being the fifteenth president of General Motors
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
, from 1974 to 1981. He was born in Mendon, Michigan
Mendon, Michigan
Mendon is a village in St. Joseph County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 917 at the 2000 census. The village is located within Mendon Township.-Geography:...
and worked in a creamery, until at the suggestion of a cousin, applied to the General Motors Institute, where he worked with Charles Kettering
Charles Kettering
Charles Franklin Kettering was an American inventor, engineer, businessman, and the holder of 186 patents. He was a founder of Delco, and was head of research for General Motors for 27 years from 1920 to 1947. Among his most widely used automotive inventions were the electrical starting motor and...
and oversaw the successful introduction of the Oldsmobile Rocket V8
Oldsmobile V8 engine
The Oldsmobile Rocket V8 was the first post-war OHV V8 at General Motors. Production started in 1949, with a new generation introduced in 1964. Like Pontiac, Olds continued building its own V8 engine family for decades, finally adopting the corporate Chevrolet 350 small-block and Cadillac Northstar...
engine.
Following his tenure as an engineer at Oldsmobile
Oldsmobile
Oldsmobile was a brand of American automobile produced for most of its existence by General Motors. It was founded by Ransom E. Olds in 1897. In its 107-year history, it produced 35.2 million cars, including at least 14 million built at its Lansing, Michigan factory...
, Estes was appointed Chief Engineer at Pontiac in 1956 by Semon "Bunkie" Knudsen and became President of the Pontiac Division in 1961, where he oversaw a dramatic increase in sales. He became President of the Chevrolet Division in 1965, executive Vice President of General Motors in 1972, and served as President of GM from 1974 to his retirement from the company in 1981.
After his retirement, Estes was a director on the board of the Kellogg Company
Kellogg Company
Kellogg Company , is a producer of cereal and convenience foods, including cookies, crackers, toaster pastries, cereal bars, fruit-flavored snacks, frozen waffles, and vegetarian foods...
, and died of a heart attack at O'Hare Airport on his way to a board meeting on March 24, 1988.